CitySolve Urban Race Brings a Downtown Scavenger Hunt to Phoenix in March

From music to cars, clothing to sporting events, the world is be compartmentalized and reduced into specific niches--and finding the right niche is crucial in making most any event or concept work well.

That said, CitySolve Urban Race planners are calling for all sneaker-wearing pop culture guru public transportation-riding adventure sport math junkie photographers to participate in the Phoenix version of its national race series.

Do you fit that niche demographic? Part of it? Just looking for a, uh, different way to discover more of the United States' fifth largest metropolitan area? Well, the "exhilarating adventure race that CitySolve Urban Race promises to deliver" (press speak), takes place noon Saturday, March 2 and involves solving riddles and overcoming unexpected challenges in order to navigate across the Phoenix.

It works something like this: Participant teams of two to four adventurers (costumes are highly recommended) are presented with a series of questions, from pop culture references to math riddles (nothing overly complex, organizers promise), to solve. These answers provide directional clues toward the next checkpoint.

https://www.facebook.com/CitySolveUrbanRace

But it's not as easy as jumping on a bus, light rail or taxi (only public transportation can be used) to that checkpoint as assorted challenges are used to interrupt the flow--like bowling a strike or racking one's brain for an elusive song title.

Oh yeah, photos need to be taken at each checkpoint too--proof that you actually were there.

This scenario plays out 10 times, and for the first team back to the starting line (Legends Sports Bar, 412 South 3rd Street), with all questions and challenges met correctly, it's a $300 payday. Other prizes will be awarded for best costume and best tweet.

OK, the prize isn't much, but racing around outside all day (even in Phoenix) can't be a bad thing. And, let's not forget that the CitySolve Urban Race is a great way to test your mettle if considering entering something on a grander scale, like actually The Amazing Race this event is modeled upon. Plus, a portion of registration fees goes to the ALS Foundation Arizona Chapter.